| Visit of George III to Howe's Flagship the Queen Charlotte | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Henry Perronet Briggs |
| Year | 1828 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 162.5 cm× 255.5 cm(64.0 in× 100.6 in) |
| Location | National Maritime Museum, London |
Visit of George III to Howe's Flagship the Queen Charlotte is an 1828 history painting by the British artist Henry Perronet Briggs. It depicts an event that took place on 26 June 1794 when George III, his wife Queen Charlotte and leading members of the government visited the Royal Navy warship HMS Queen Charlotte at Portsmouth. [1] A few weeks earlier Queen Charlotte had been the flagship of Admiral Richard Howe during the Glorious First of June, a British victory over the navy of Revolutionary France. [2] The ship, launched in 1790, was named after the Queen.
Contents
The king, with his wife beside him, is shown presenting a ceremonial sword to Howe. Other members of the royal family are also visible, while behind Howe stands his subordinates Alexander Hood, Alan Gardner and Roger Curtis. On the far left of the painting, under the royal coat of arms, is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom William Pitt the Younger. It was one four naval paintings commissioned by the British Institution to encourage history scenes and was displayed at the Institution before moving to Greenwich Hospital. Today the painting is in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. [3]
